Morrow Pivot

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1985 personal computer

title: "Morrow Pivot" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ibm-pc-compatibles", "computer-related-introductions-in-1985", "portable-computers"] description: "1985 personal computer" topic_path: "general/ibm-pc-compatibles" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrow_Pivot" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1985 personal computer ::

| name = Pivot | image = pivotcjacobs627.jpg | caption = A Morrow Pivot II from 1985 | developer = | type = Portable computer | memory = 256 KB (expandable to 640 KB) RAM 32 KB ROM | cpu = 8088 | release_date = | price = | os = MS-DOS 2.11 | weight = 13 lbs | display = 10-inch monochrome LCD | graphics =

The Pivot is a family of early IBM PC–compatible portable computers first released in 1984 by Morrow Designs, a company founded by George Morrow. It was the first lunchbox-style portable computer, with a vertically configured case that had a fold-down keyboard. The only external component was a single AC adapter. It would have been a little top heavy except for the large camcorder-style battery loaded into its base. The Pivot was designed by Chikok Shing of Vadem Inc.

The IBM-compatible Pivot was Morrow's first non-Z80 machine. While modern laptops do not necessarily share its design, it was arguably the most practical machine until desktops embraced 3.5-inch floppies.

Specifications

The original model, retrospectively called the Pivot I, was unveiled at COMDEX/Spring '84 in May 1984 and released in November that year.

The Pivot I had an original list price of US$2,995. In February 1985, Morrow revised the LCD to have an electroluminescent backlighting panel, allowing users to operate the computer in the dark. With this adjustment, the Morrow Pivot became the first battery-powered portable computer with a backlit display.

The Pivot II, introduced in May 1985, improved the LCD to support native CGA resolutions—that is, 320 by 200 pixels in graphics mode and 80 columns by 25 lines in text mode. The Pivot II was optioned with either one or two 5.25-inch floppy drives. In March 1986, Morrow introduced the Pivot XT, including an internal 3.5-inch, 10-MB hard disk drive in addition to two 5.25-inch floppy drives.

Clones

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Zenith_Z-171_-_Open.jpg" caption="The [[Zenith Data Systems]] Z-171, a clone of the Pivot II licensed from Morrow"] ::

The Pivot II design was licensed to Zenith Data Systems in February 1985 for $1.5 million and sold as the Zenith Z-171. Zenith sold over US$27 million worth of ZFL-171s to the United States government, mainly to the Internal Revenue Service—notably beating out IBM and their PC Convertible clamshell laptop. In 1985 the general manager of Morrow Designs, Robert Dilworth, left his position to become CEO of Zenith Data Systems, a position he held for several years as part of Zenith's paying him to talk George Morrow into licensing the Pivot to them.

Osborne Computer Corporation licensed the original Pivot (not backlit, 80x16 line/480x128 display, 128 KB RAM, 16 KB ROM) from 1984 as the basis for their Osborne 3, known as the Osborne Encore in Europe.

References

References

  1. Staff writer. (October 1989). "George Morrow Readying New Computer". McGraw-Hill.
  2. Król, Karol. (September 2021). "Hardware Heritage—Briefcase-Sized Computers". MDPI.
  3. Plunkett, R. B. Jr.. (February 27, 1986). "Zenith wins IRS contract". Daily News.
  4. Markoff, John. (9 May 2003). "George Morrow, a Personal Computer Visionary, Dies at 69". [[The New York Times]].
  5. Caruso, Denise. (December 9, 1985). "Morrow Quits Retailing for Value-Added Market". Endeavor Business Media.
  6. Dodge, J. M.. (May 29, 1984). "Comdex: A Few Important Products – 7 Compatibles Make Debuts at Spring Show". Ziff-Davis.
  7. Ahl, David H.. (April 1985). "Morrow Pivot". Creative Computing.
  8. Chin, Kathy. (February 25, 1985). "Morrow Shows New Flat Panel". IDG Publications.
  9. Sullivan, Kathleen. (May 6, 1985). "Morrow unveils IBM-compatible portable". CW Communications.
  10. Casella, Phil. (September 23, 1985). "A Portable and Legible MS-DOS PC with Pivot II". IDG Publications.
  11. McCarthy, Michael. (December 2, 1985). "Pivot II Update: Warning Signal Gives Portable a Higher Score".
  12. Kanzler, Stephen. (March 4, 1986). "Morrow offers hard-disk Pivot model". Ziff-Davis.
  13. Staff writer. (January 7, 1985). "Morrow, Zenith Data Systems Enter into Licensing Agreement". UBM LLC.
  14. Lewis, Peter H.. (March 11, 1986). "Surprising Zenith Portable". The New York Times.
  15. Barney, Douglas. (June 1986). "Zenith laptop boasts 3½-in. drives, full-size LCD screen". IDG Publications.
  16. Mel, Mandell. (February 23, 1987). "The Secrets of Silent Success". Family Media.
  17. Wilder, Clinton. (August 24, 1987). "Zenith Data president leaves for start-up". CW Communications.
  18. (November 12, 1984). "Osborne Shows New Computer".

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